Explained: Why Phil Parkinson finds it easy to handle Hollywood ‘circus’ created by Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney & the Welcome to Wrexham documentary cameras

Celebrity co-owners at SToK Racecourse made Parkinson their No.1 pick to inherit managerial reins in North Wales back in the summer of 2021 – a matter of months after their stunning takeover was completed. A proven performer in the EFL took some persuading to join the Red Dragons, but he has delivered on expectations while working in an environment that sees his every move caught on camera by the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series.

Chris Iwelumo, who worked with Parkinson at Colchester, has told BBC Sport of why the affable 56-year-old is ideal for Wrexham: “You have to remember he has a psychology degree. He knows how to handle situations and he can take himself out of it and look at it from the outside. Yes there are cameras everywhere... Wrexham is a brand, but as a manager it does not change anything. You have to be able to separate that circus from what you do and what you would usually do as if it was just a normal environment. I think that is what he does well.”

Garry Thompson, who was part of the Bradford squad that Parkinson led to the 2013 League Cup final, agrees with that assessment. He added: “We could have got swept up in the League Cup final. It was a massive thing for a League Two club to get there. To keep us level-headed and to go back six weeks later and get promoted just reflects him as a character. He didn't allow anybody to rest on their laurels. It was always on to the next game. It's that hunger to keep doing this at the right time with a level head. With the size of the off-the-field stuff, the new owners bring that Hollywood style, it would be easy to get swept away. You need someone like him to keep everything level and the players level.”

Parkinson guided Wrexham to the National League title last season in record-breaking style. He has followed that success up with a top-three finish in League Two, meaning that the Red Dragons can start planning for life back in the third tier of English football after a 20-year absence.